‘The very last kick’: Mark Lawrenson has predicted Leeds vs Brentford and the relegation battle

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Writing in his BBC Sport column, Mark Lawrenson has predicted the result of Leeds vs Brentford and the outcome of the relegation battle.

Leeds United head into the final game of the season knowing that a defeat would consign them to relegation, but even a win may not be enough depending on how Burnley get on against Newcastle.

Unfortunately for the Whites, they’re now favourites for relegation, and Lawrenson is backing them to lose this weekend and confirm their place back in the Championship?

Lawrenson’s predictions

The pundit gave his verdict on how this weekend’s games will play out.

Lawrenson backed Brentford to beat Leeds 2-1.

“To stay up, Leeds know they need a better result than Burnley manage against Newcastle – but I can’t see them getting it,” Lawrenson wrote.

“Jesse Marsch’s side kept going last time out, and nicked a vital point against Brighton in injury time, but getting anything at all at Brentford is a big ask.”

“I just fancy Brentford to get goals on Sunday – far more than I do Leeds, even though they won’t lack any effort because they play at 200mph anyway.”

Unfortunately for Leeds, Lawrenson also backed Burnley to pick up a point against Newcastle at the weekend, stating that the game could be settled with the very last kick of the season, predicting a 1-1 draw.

“The Clarets are determined – which helped them get a point against Aston Villa on Thursday – but they have gone back to how they were playing previously, which is with an element of fear,” Lawrenson wrote.

“Newcastle, meanwhile, have done a lot of hard work since the turn of the year and had some excellent results.”

“I’d be surprised if they left Turf Moor empty-handed… so the final relegation place could be in the balance until the very last kick of the campaign.”

Tight

This is as tight a relegation battle as we’ve ever seen, and as Lawrenson says, this could come down to the final kick of the season.

Goal difference is all that separates Leeds and Burnley, and with the margins that fine, it could just take one late goal to save either team’s skin.

Lawrenson thinks Leeds are the team that will go down, but one thing is for sure, the Whites will fight until the very end.